2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Likely to Significantly Impact Travel

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook and said that it expects an active to extremely active season this year.

Disruptions to travel are likely. Last year, Hurricane Sandy, a storm that caused over $75 billion in damage, second only to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, not only caused severe hardship for millions of people who were left without food and power but also left hundreds of thousands of travelers stranded thanks to the cancellation of over 16,000 flights.

Last year, the pre-season forecast was for a less-active season, although it turned out to be extremely active, tying with 1887, 1995, 2010, and 2011 for having the third-most named storms on record and it will be largely remembered for the devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy.

The NOAA Outlook said there is a 70% chance that there will be 13 to 20 named storms, i.e. those with winds of 39 mph (62.8 km/h) or higher, of which seven to 11 could become hurricanes, with winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) or higher. This includes between three to six major hurricanes falling in Category 3, 4, or 5, with winds of 111 mph (178.6 km/h) or higher.

These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.

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